Tulsa Schools Propose Expansion To Language-Immersion Programs

Tulsa Public Schools is waiting for school board approval on a plan to move and expand two language-immersion school programs for elementary students. The proposal affects Eisenhower International and Zarrow International schools.

Students are taught in Spanish through the 2nd grade when English is introduced.

At a public forum Thursday, Tulsa Public School officials discussed its proposal to move Eisenhower from its current location at 2819 S. New Haven Avenue to the former Nimitz Middle School, 3111 East 56th Street. That would make room for two additional kindergarten classes at Eisenhower and one class added to Zarrow, according to a release from Tulsa Public Schools.

"I feel very strongly that this is an excellent plan to expand the number of seats and opportunities at Eisenhower and Zarrow," said Dr. Keith Ballard, TPS superintendent.

"We want equity and accessibility to these programs for all students throughout the district. At the same time, parents have had concerns about allowing for sibling preference when selecting applicants. Given the great reception we got from parents last night, I look forward to making this recommendation to the board that will address both of these issues by expanding the number of seats."

The proposal includes moving to a lottery application process at the two elementary schools, with the inclusion of sibling preference. It would remove the current assessment/screening process which the school system calls "inadequate."

Ballard said that the application process would give students in the Tulsa midtown area – which has the smallest total student population – a more equal chance at attending the language-immersion schools.